Michael Paiewonsky traces the twenty-two years of Caribbean history after Columbus, providing both a fascinating story & an important social record of the evolving Spanish community & its impact on the Indians. The book opens with Columbus' famous letter, written during his first voyage home to Spain, detailing the beauty of the islands & the limitless possibilities for wealth & for conversion of the natives. Columbus would sail the New World three more times before he died. The text is enhanced by excerpts from Columbus' logs as well as journals kept by other noblemen on board. These eyewitness accounts vividly describe the dense foliage & unusual fruits, the lost parties of fellow explorers, & the customs of Carib natives - some cannibalistic - who are unarmed & are fearful of the Spanish intruders. Later journals reveal the escalation of Indian slavery, depletion of the islands' resources & conflicts among the Spanish leaders. This handsome edition is generously illustrated with woodcuts, rare maps & photographs, nearly all of which are from MAPes MONDe archives. It is printed on acid-free handmade Italian paper. Printing color illustrations on uncoated paper is the best way to preserve the delicacy & detail of the original material. Distributed by; Academy Chicago Publishers, 213 West Institute Place, Chicago, IL 60610. 312-751-7302.